There is a simple principle or message that flows throughout the entire New Testament. It is so basic that Christians (including myself) seem to overlook it from time to time. You know when you hold a book so close to your face that you can no longer read it? — that’s the feeling I get with this. The principle is so prominent, so much in the fore-ground, that we miss it. How does the saying go? Something like this — “Sometimes things can be right under your nose, the only problem is that your eyes are above it.” I think that rings true here. So lets take a step back, forget about the secondary issues for a second, pull the book away from our face, and read the message: Focus on Christ.

Here are a few verses that have really helped me regain this aim:

“Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.” Colossians 2:18-19

**So many times we let the secondary issues, puffed up visions, “religious experiences,” and meaningless quarrels distract us. We focus on the substance instead of focusing on Him to whom the substance belongs: Christ.

“…Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2.

These are just two examples taken from a sea of verses that plead with Christians to focus on Christ. The whole Bible oozes out Christ. All of Scripture is blood-stained.

Why is this so extremely important?:

1. Spiritual advancement or growth is impossible without the proper focus. Progress does not always mean going forward. Sometimes we need to turn around, retreat, or go backwards to get closer to where we want to be.

2. Our ability to have faith is completely bound up in the person, work, and nature of Christ.

3. Our perseverance is entirely dependent upon Christ. Christian character and godliness are directly connected to our view of Christ, and our endurance is limited to how tightly we hold onto Him.